McGregor Favored in Diaz Trilogy Rematch

With the news media abuzz with speculation about a return to the cage by Conor McGregor, the UFC lightweight champion has emerged as a heavy -250 favorite on the UFC odds to earn the win in a potential third fight with Nate Diaz.

McGregor has taken his time deciding on his next opponent since falling to undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. by a technical knockout as a +265 underdog in their much-heralded clash earlier this summer.

After cashing in on a massive multi-million-dollar payday in his August 26 tilt with Mayweather, “The Notorious” has no shortage of challengers looking to take him on, either in the octagon or the squared circle.

Former WBA welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi has been vocal about his desire to fight McGregor since leaving his training camp following a controversial clash during a sparring session prior to the Irishman’s boxing debut against Mayweather.

UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is undefeated in 11 fights since losing to McGregor by unanimous decision as a +250 underdog at UFC Fight Night 26, and has publicly stated that he would claim victory in a rematch with the Dublin native.

But with McGregor now largely in control over the decision as to who his next opponent will be, a rubber match with Diaz could become a reality before the end of 2017.

McGregor First Faced Diaz at UFC 196

Fresh off a stunning first-round knockout of Jose Aldo as a +105 underdog at UFC 194 that earned him the unified UFC Lightweight title, McGregor shook up the MMA world by taking on Diaz as -400 chalk in a welterweight matchup at UFC 196.

Diaz needed just over nine minutes to finish McGregor by submission with a rear-naked choke and pay out on +300 odds. However, McGregor was far more prepared to face Diaz in their rematch at UFC 202, outlasting the 32-year-old to earn a slim majority decision win as reduced -150 chalk.

Pegged as a +195 underdog in a potential Trilogy rematch, Diaz has been idle since his loss to McGregor 14 months ago.

Diaz is no stranger to long breaks away from the cage. The Stockton, California native posted a unanimous decision win over Michael Johnson as a +285 underdog at UFC on Fox 17 in December 2015 a full year after his unanimous decision loss to Rafael dos Anjos in a catchweight bout at UFC on Fox 13. However, he is just 4-3 in seven visits to the octagon following layoffs lasting longer than six months.